One of the defining cars of my youth... I can remember
how intimidating this version of the Big Donkey appeared out on the track whether Gerald
Chamberlain, Stan Ploski or even Jan Opperman were at the controls. The motor set
way back as you can see and it just looked like the car was trimmed out to so that all
that remained was pure race car!

This car is the first mod I ever got to stand next to while it was
running. I remember my dad taking us in the pits one night after the races at
Reading. We went to get our pictures we got that night autographed. As we were
standing there I remember them firing up the car to load it on the trailer. They
reved it up - it blew huge blue and orange flames out of the pipes!

I remember
asking my dad how it was possible that the flames didn't melt the rear tires!. He
laughed and said that if the car sat there long enough running it would melt the
wheels! lol.

I was hooked on the modifieds from that night on and still am that way today.

03/24/05

3-Wide

.... and that ladies and gentlemen is what it's all about. (Great
little story Steve - Thanks)

12.08.11

Terry Fick

When Chamberlain was in the Donkey it sported an SOHC 427
Ford that Deasey bought (I believe) from The Snake. That was the engine that
spewed the blue flame since it breathed so easily. I remember standing next
to the car one night (Chamberlain had won) but the car was overheating. They
were idling the car while a crewman ran a hose over the radiator. Another
guy was standing next to the car with his pants leg in the blue flame. I
have no idea when the pants did not catch fire.

The cammer was a brute. As I recall, if the Donkey was hooked up, there was
nobody who had a thing for it. The problem it seemed, was keeping it hooked
up, especially forward bite. The car ate rear tires and rear ends from all
the torque. I guess sometimes you can have too much power. It sure was fun
to watch.